TLL Staff
People of Play has unveiled the full speaker lineup and agenda for its 2025 Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference.
The annual event is one of the most important for People of Play, which is a division of The Toy Association. It brings together professional and aspiring toy inventors, designers, students, and industry leaders for four days of educational programming, networking, and product pitch sessions.
This year’s conference takes place November 5–9 at the Embassy Suites in Rosemont, Illinois.
“Whether you’re looking to break out in the industry or are a seasoned inventor, there is opportunity for everyone at the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference,” said Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder/leader of People of Play at The Toy Association. “All attendees will have the chance to pitch toy and game ideas directly to product acquisition executives, gain expert feedback, and explore licensing and partnership opportunities.”
This year’s agenda includes sessions on artificial intelligence, intellectual property protection, marketing strategies, and influencer collaboration, along with mentoring sessions and social networking events.
Dustin Cohn of OnePay to Deliver Keynote Address
The conference will open with a keynote address from Dustin Cohn, chief marketing officer at OnePay and formerly with Goldman Sachs and PepsiCo. Cohn will discuss how brands can create powerful emotional and rational connections with audiences through purposeful storytelling.
Panel discussions will feature toy and game industry figures including conference emcee Azhelle Wade (The Toy Coach), Ross Thompson (Atomic Mass Games), Grant Lyon (Grant’s Game Recs), Dani Standring (game influencer), Joe Barron (Gray Matters Games), Amy Friedland (Carve Communications), Rachel Griffin (Playwise Partners), Tracy Dudkiewicz (TAP Marketing), Reid Huefner and Victoria Hanson (Irwin IP), Michael Gray (Nixon Peabody), and Severin Strehl (Piatnik, Austria).
A key component of the event is its “Speed Meeting/Pitch” sessions, which allow new inventors to present ideas directly to company representatives for feedback and potential licensing opportunities. Attendees can also book one-on-one mentoring meetings for advice on product design, manufacturing, legal issues, marketing, and retail.
Mentors this year include Amy Friedland (Carve Communications), Rachel Griffin (Playwise Partners), Robert Coleman (professional inventor), Tracy Dudkiewicz (TAP Marketing), Lisa Wuennemann (marketing professional), Robert Yusim (Product Counsel), Steve Rad (Abacus Brands), Donna Moore (Toys of Our Lives), Brian Turtle (Goliath Group), Martin Horstman (BitOGenius), Mark Rappaport (Marky Sparky), Lea Edwards (Irwin IP), Reid Huefner (Irwin IP), and Michael Gray (Nixon Peabody).
Networking and Events
Evening receptions will provide informal networking opportunities with executives, inventors, and dealmakers.
Registration also includes complimentary access to two major industry events: the Toy & Game International Innovation Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) on November 8 at Joe’s Live Concert Venue; and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, taking place November 8–9 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
Founded in 2006, the Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference is recognized as the world’s largest gathering of toy and game inventors and product acquisition executives, drawing participants from roughly 25 countries each year.
The 2025 conference is sponsored by Longshore Limited, The Michael Kohner Corporation, Eastar Game Manufacturing, Backdrop.com, Nextoy, Brown Creative, and The Game Aisle.
For more information or to register, visit peopleofplay.com.